Stigmastanol (sitostanol) is a phytosterol found in a variety of plant sources. Similar to sterol esters and stanol esters, stigmastanol inhibits the absorption of cholesterol from the diet. Animal studies suggest that it also inhibits biosynthesis of cholesterol in the liver.[verification needed]
↑Sandqvist, Hakan; Bengtsson, Edvard (1931). "The empirical formula of sitosterol". Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft B. 64: 2167–2171. doi:10.1002/cber.19310640849.
12Batta, Ashok K.; Xu, Guorong; Honda, Akira; Miyazaki, Teruo; Salen, Gerald (2006). "Stigmasterol reduces plasma cholesterol levels and inhibits hepatic synthesis and intestinal absorption in the rat". Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental. 55 (3): 292–299. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2005.08.024. PMID16483871.
↑Heinemann T, Pietruck B, Kullak-Ublick G, von Bergmann K (1988). "Comparison of sitosterol and sitostanol on inhibition of intestinal cholesterol absorption". Agents and Actions. Supplements. 26: 117–122. PMID3265272.
↑Heinemann T, Kullak-Ublick GA, Pietruck B, von Bergmann K (1991). "Mechanisms of action of plant sterols on inhibition of cholesterol absorption. Comparison of sitosterol and sitostanol". European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 40 (Suppl 1): S59–63. doi:10.1007/BF01409411. PMID2044646. S2CID23279253.